Dental instrument for use with interdental wedges

ABSTRACT

Dental instrument for use with an interdental wedge, wherein the latter has a base with an interdental wedge portion extending from the base in one direction and a quadrilateral projection extending in the opposite direction, the instrument having a pair of operating handles swingably secured together for opening and closing movements, each handle being provided with a wedgegrasping jaw, and the two jaws being formed with registering recesses located to fit over and grasp the quadrilateral projection so that the interdental wedge portion may be pushed between adjacent teeth of a patient to force a looped matrix band against the axial contour of a previously banded tooth.

United States Patent [1 1 Tofflemire [451 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] DENTAL INSTRUMENT FOR USE WITH INTERDENTAL WEDGES [76] Inventor: Benjamin F. Tofflemire, 41301 Crest Drive, l-lemet, Calif. 92343 1 [22] Filed: June 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 261,089

[52] US. Cl ..32/64 [51] Int. Cl ..A6lc 3/00 [58] Field of Search...'. ..32/63, 64, 66

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 648,196 4/1900 Dickinson ..32/63 3,623,227 ll/l97l Tofflemire ..32/64 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Att0rney-'.|oseph F. Cole [57] ABSTRACT Dental instrument for use with an interdental wedge, wherein the latter has a base with an interdental wedge portion extending from the base in one direction and a quadrilateral projection extending in the opposite direction, the instrument having a pair of operating handles swingably secured together for opening and closing movements, each handle being provided with a wedge-grasping jaw, and the two jaws being formed with registering recesses located to fit over and grasp the quadrilateral projection so that the interdental wedge portion may be pushed between adjacent teeth of a patient to force a looped matrix band against the axial contour of a previously banded math 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DENTAL INSTRUMENT FOR USE WITH INTERDENTAL WEDGES CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT The present invention relates to improvements over my U.S. Pat. No. 3,623,227, dated Nov. 30, I971, entitled Dental Instrument For Use With Teeth-Spreading Wedges During Filling Operations.

SUMMARY In my U.S. Pat. No. 3,636,631, dated Jan. 25, I972, there is disclosed teeth-separating wedges for use during filling operations. In a modified embodiment of the wedge, as shown herein, a quadrilateral projection is provided on the base of each wedge that extends in a direction opposite to an interdental wedge portion, the base being wider than the projection to provide shoulders on opposite lateral sides of the projection.

An object of this invention is to provide a dental instrument having a pair of operating handles swingably secured together for closing and opening movements, each handle being provided with a wedge-grasping jaw, and each jaw being formed with a recess on an inner edge thereof, the recesses of the two jaws confronting and registering with one another. These recesses are located to fit over and grasp mesial and distal surfaces of the quadrilateral projection, respectively, and the jaws are movable against the shoulders, whereby the wedge may be pushed between adjacent teeth of a patient to force a looped matrix band against the axial contour of a previously banded tooth.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of the invention,

' reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of my improved dental instrument;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of my improved dental instrument;

FIG. 3 is an occlusal view of a pair of wedges inserted interdentally between teeth of a patient and illustrating the jaws of my improved dental instrument in section and grasping the quadrilateral projection of one of the wedges; and

FIG. 4 is bucco-linguaI view of the wedge showing the latter resting on the summit of the alveolar gingival crest of the gingival tissues of the patient, and further showing a fragmentary part of my improved dental instrument in operative position.

While I have shown only the preferred embodiments of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that a dental instrument designated generally at A has been provided for use with an interdental wedge B, the latter being insertable between adjacent teeth C of a patient, one of the teeth being previously banded with a looped matrix band D.

Briefly stated, each interdental wedge has a base 10 rectangular in cross-section with an interdental wedge portion 11 extending from the base in one direction to force the looped matrix band D against the axial contour of the previously banded tooth. The wedge B may be oriented so that it will rest on the summit I2 of the alveolar crest of the gingival tissues l3-and not gouge into these tender tissues (see FIG. 4). Further details of the wedge are shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,636,631.

However, the wedge B has been modified by providing a quadrilateral projection 14 extending in the opposite direction from the base 10 from that of the interdental wedge portion II, the base being wider than the projection to provide shoulders 15 on opposite lateral sides of the projection (see FIG. 3). The projection 14 defines mesial and distal surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, and further defines occlusal and gingival surfaces 18 and 19, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

Turning now to the details of the dental instrument A, it defines a pair of operating handles 20 swingably secured together for closing and opening movements, each handle being provided with,a wedge-grasping jaw 21 movable toward and away from one another when corresponding movements are imparted to the handles.

It will be noted that each jaw 21 is formed with a recess 22 on an inner edge thereof, and the recesses of the two jaws confront and register with one another.

(see FIGS. 1 and 2). The recesses 22 of the two jaws are located to fit over and grasp the mesial and distal surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, of the quadrilateral projection 14, and the jaws 21 are movable against the shoulders 15, whereby the wedge B may be pushed between the adjacent teeth C (see FIG. 3).

With further reference to the projection 14, it will be noted that the mesial and distal surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, converge relatively to one another toward the gingival surface 19 provided on the quadrilateral projection. Each recess 22 defines a sloping bottom wall 22a converging relatively to one another in a direction extending toward an outer end top 23 of the instrument A and the slope thereof conforming to correspondingly converging of the mesial and distal surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, of the quadrilateral projection. This arrangement will prevent the wedge'B from being inserted improperly into the instrument.

Moreover, each recess 22 defines occlusal and distal end stops 24 and 25, respectively, disposed to fit over adjacent occlusal and gingival surfaces 18 and 19, respectively, of the quadrilateral projection 14 to thereby hold the jaws 2I, when applied to the wedge B, from substantial vertical movement relative to the wedge.

In FIG. I, the swinging securing of the operating handles 20 together is provided by a journal pin 26 located at the outer end tip 23 of the instrument A, and additional stability of the pair of handles is provided by a guide pin 27 fixed to one handle, with this guide pin projecting into an opening 28 formed in the other handle.

It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that the swinging securing of the operating handles 20 together is provided by a journal pin 29 at a point where these handles cross one another.

In both FlGS. l and 2, a leaf spring 30 has been provided between the handles 20 so that the spring will cause the jaws 21 to tend to separate enough to readily accept the quadrilateral projection 14. Moreover, the handles are locked in closed position by means of ratchet-tooth closing clamp 31.

The handles 20 are curved along their lengths to permit the dentist to observe the wedge B as it is inserted between the adjacent teeth C so that the wedge will be properly oriented.

As disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the sloping bottom walls 22a of the recesses 22 are fastened with vertical flutings 32 so as to grip the mesial and distal surfaces 16 and 17, respective, of the quadrilateral projection 14 of the interdental wedge B during insertion of the latter.

I claim:

1. In a dental instrument for use with an interdental wedge, wherein the latter has a base with an interdental wedge portion extending from the base in one direction and a quadrilateral projection extending in the opposite direction, the base being wider than the projection to provide shoulders on op posite lateral sides of the projection, the instrument defining:

a. a 'pair of operating handles swingably secured together for closing and opening movements, each handle being provided with a wedge-grasping jaw movable toward and away from one another when corresponding movements are imparted to the handles;

b. each jaw being formed with a recess on an inner edge thereof, and'the recesses of the two jaws confronting and registering with one another;

c. the recesses of the two jaws being located to fit over and grasp mesial and distal surfaces of the quadrilateral projection, respectively, and the jaws being movable against the shoulders, whereby the wedge may be pushed between adjacent teeth of a patient to force a looped matrix band against the axial contour of a previously banded tooth.

2. The dental instrument, as set forth in claim 1;

d. and in which each recess defines a sloping bottom wall, and the bottom walls of the two recesses converging relative to one another in a direction extending toward an outer end tip of the instrument and the slope thereof conforming to correspondingly converging mesial and distal surfaces provided on the quadrilateral projection.

3. The dental instrument, as set forth in claim 1;

d. and in which each recess defines occlusal and distal end stop walls disposed to fit over adjacent occlusal and gingival surfaces, respectively, of the quadrilateral projection to thereby hold the jaws, when applied to the wedge, from substantial vertical movement relative to the wedge.

4. The dental instrument, as set forth in claim 1;

d. and in which the swinging securing of the operating handles together is provided by a journal pin located at the outer end tip of the instrument, and additional stability of the pair of handles is provided by a guide pin fixed to one of the handles, with the guide pin projecting into an opening formed in the other handle.

5. The dental instrument, as set forth in claim 1;

d. and in which the operating handles cross one another near the wedge-grasping jaws, and the swinging securing of the handles together is provide by a ournal pm located in the area of crossing of the handles. 

1. In a dental instrument for use with an interdental wedge, wherein the latter has a base with an interdental wedge portion extending from the base in one direction and a quadrilateral projection extending in the opposite direction, the base being wider than the projection to provide shoulders on opposite lateral sides of the projection, the instrument defining: a. a pair of operating handles swingably secured together for closing and opening movements, each handle being provided with a wedge-grasping jaw movable toward and away from one another when corresponding movements are imparted to the handles; b. each jaw being formed with a recess on an inner edge thereof, and the recesses of the two jaws confronting and registering with one another; c. the recesses of the two jaws being located to fit over and grasp mesial and distal surfaces of the quadrilateral projection, respectively, and the jaws being movable against the shoulders, whereby the wedge may be pushed between adjacent teeth of a patient to force a looped matrix band against the axial contour of a previously banded tooth.
 1. In a dental instrument for use with an interdental wedge, wherein the latter has a base with an interdental wedge portion extending from the base in one direction and a quadrilateral projection extending in the opposite direction, the base being wider than the projection to provide shoulders on opposite lateral sides of the projection, the instrument defining: a. a pair of operating handles swingably secured together for closing and opening movements, each handle being provided with a wedge-grasping jaw movable toward and away from one another when corresponding movements are imparted to the handles; b. each jaw being formed with a recess on an inner edge thereof, and the recesses of the two jaws confronting and registering with one another; c. the recesses of the two jaws being located to fit over and grasp mesial and distal surfaces of the quadrilateral projection, respectively, and the jaws being movable against the shoulders, whereby the wedge may be pushed between adjacent teeth of a patient to force a looped matrix band against the axial contour of a previously banded tooth.
 2. The dental instrument, as set forth in claim 1; d. and in which each recess defines a sloping bottom wall, and the bottom walls of the two recesses converging relative to one another in a direction extending toward an outer end tip of the instrument and the slope thereof conforming to correspondingly converging mesial and distal surfaces provided on the quadrilateral projection.
 3. The dental instrument, as set forth in claim 1; d. and in which each recess defines occlusal and distal end stop walls disposed to fit over adjacent occlusal and gingival surfaces, respectively, of the quadrilateral projection to thereby hold the jaws, when applied to the wedge, from substantial vertical movement relative to the wedge.
 4. The dental instrument, as set forth in claim 1; d. and in which the swinging securing of the operating handles together is provided by a journal pin located at the outer end tip of the instrument, and additional stability of the pair of handles is provided by a guide pin fixed to one of the handles, with the guide pin projecting into an opening formed in the other handle. 